UNIFOUR NATURAL PET FOODS

Healing after losing Jasper has not been linear. Some days feel steady, others bring unexpected waves of grief. This is a reflection on sleep returning, energy rising, and learning to carry love and loss at the same time.

It’s been a week since we laid Jasper to rest. Grief isn’t something to move through or get over, it’s something you learn to carry. This is a reflection on love, loss, exhaustion, and the great dane sized space he left behind.

Our bonus time has ended. This is the story of how we knew it was time, how we loved Jasper through his final moments, and how we’re learning to sit with the grief that follows.

Planning gives me a way to feel some sense of control over things that are completely out of my control. Unfortunately, we’ve been through the loss of a pet many, many times, and by now we usually know how it’s going to play out. The first part of the planning was making sure Jasper has all of the medication he needs to keep him mobile and comfortable. We already have comfortable places for him to lay in almost every room. Over the last several months, we’ve had to be very in

Loving pets means eventually learning how to sit with grief. This isn’t pre-grief. This is the real thing. This is how I’m processing the pain, the memories, the silver linings, and the bonus time we’ve been given.

Almost 3 years ago we welcomed a skinny, but very tall brindle Great Dane into our home. His name is Jasper. He wasn’t living the life his original owners intended him to live and they graciously allowed us the chance to give him something better. Last spring I noticed he was slowing down a bit and taking a little longer to get up. He is a big guy (156 pounds) and it’s a lot of body to get up off the floor or bed, but it still caused me concern. Jasper turned 8 years old on J